Chris Reed, an active duty Military Police officer who is volunteering at the Veteran's Festival, gets his haircut by Kandy Bradley. Free haircuts are one of the many services the festival offers toward veterans and their families.(Photo: Erica Brechtelsbauer/The Leaf-Chronicle)Buy Photo

CLARKSVILLE--For the second year, Operation Stand Down Tennessee is hosting its Veteran's Festival, a two-day event with dozens of vendors and volunteers, to salute the service and honor the sacrifices of all veterans and their families.

The Vet Fest started on Wednesday, and will be taking place again tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Daymar College on Trenton Road. Nearly 40 volunteers between active military police officers, to members from the VFW and Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association have taken time to help the event run smoothly. Rooms are full with vendors who have tables set up, from counseling services, to hearing and eye exams, free haircuts, homeless assistance programs, legal consultations and a hiring fair. Throughout the day, Manna Café is also providing meals for all the veterans and families.

"Once they get here, they're exposed to all the services and opportunities out there that touch the many dimensions of a veteran's life," said John Routzahn, co-chair of the event.

Chris Reed, an active duty Military Police officer who is volunteering at the Veteran's Festival, gets his haircut by Kandy Bradley. Free haircuts are one of the many services the festival offers toward veterans and their families. Erica Brechtelsbauer/The Leaf-Chronicle

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This year, Operation Stand Down renamed the event, with hopes of attracting more of the veteran population. Mari Shackelford, co-lead for the event, mentioned the various benefits Vet Fest provides, in addition to community awareness on veterans' issues.

"Not only is it an opportunity for veterans to come together at one location, but it also is an opportunity for service providers to network," Shackelford said.

UAW Local 1853 from Spring Hill, one of the longest serving veterans committees in the area, also brought nearly 100 backpacks filled with socks, t-shirts and various toiletries, in addition to 72 cases of water donated by Lyons Chevrolet.

"I got everything I need, so why not help someone else that needs it? We don't want nothing in return for it," said Harvey Solomon, Chairman of the Veterans Committee.

With Clarksville, Montgomery County having one of the largest veterans populations per capita, the event hopes to unite more local organizations and bring the community together to serve those in need of assistance.